Boatnerd Discussion Forum

For almost 5 years the Atlantic Superior ran on the East coast With a Canadian crew Gypsum from Dartmouth to Tampa and mostly New Orleans Then salt from Inagua Bahamas back up the coast Some of the other ports we went to the ship was almost too big The only advantage i can see is that if it got slow on the coast we would grab a load for Montreal and or up on to the lakes

[quote="Mac Mackay"]I think if Canada Steamship Lines and Algoma could make it pay they would use Canadian ships and crews. But obviously they can't compete with foreign flag and fofreign crew, even in short hauls between Nova Halifax and Portsmouth, New Hampshire with gypsum for example or Norfolk and Sydney with coal.[/quote]

CSL and Algoma have their own international flagged ships for these exact routes. Why could Canadian flagged vessels not be used? Nothing is stopping them, but economically it is not attractive. The international flagged ships are Panamax size, loading 50-70,000 MT of cargo, far greater than Seawaymax vessels. Further strengthening for unrestricted oceans service would reduce cargo stowage of a Seawaymax ship even more. Operating costs of the Panamax ships are less; more economical in fuel consumption per cargo ton, lower crew costs, lower ship management costs. Possibly not a concern, but Canadian sailors would be required to hold unrestricted oceans endorsements.

Evans Spirit is just returning to Sept-Iles after delivering aluminum ingots to Baltimore. She is still flagged Canadian.

I think if Canada Steamship Lines and Algoma could make it pay they would use Canadian ships and crews. But obviously they can't compete with foreign flag and fofreign crew, even in short hauls between Nova Halifax and Portsmouth, New Hampshire with gypsum for example or Norfolk and Sydney with coal.

I fully understand that long term it is cheaper to flag international then a ship being flagged USA or Canada due to labour laws, wages, insurance etc.


However, how much cheaper?

I am attempting to figure out why say a ship of say 30000 tons of gypsum from Dartmouth or Halifax or Limestone out of Newfoundland, or even Salt out Of Magdalin Isl Quebec still can't be delivered to Say Boston or Maine. That's not even a days sail from Canadian east coast ports - So why on the occasion does not a load of Gypsum, or Limestone, or Salt get delivered via a Canadian flag? over wages for 1 day? its that big of a cost difference on a million dollar plus load?

Especially from self unloaders to smaller US east coast ports (especially salt) in Maine (your talking hours)

just curious what 1 days cost difference really is between a Canadian flag and International Flag?

Thanks